El-Rufai’s aide accuses ICPC of denying ex-governor medical care in custody
By Victor Idajili
Muyiwa Adekeye, Media Adviser to former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission of denying his principal access to medical treatment while in custody.
Adekeye said in a statement that El-Rufai complained of swollen, reddish and itchy eyes and requested to see a doctor. ICPC officials allegedly turned down the request despite his condition visibly deteriorating.
“ICPC officials denied requests by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to see a doctor. He had complained about his eyes which are visibly swollen, reddish and itchy. His family drew the attention of the operatives to his condition and his request for a hospital visit to check his condition,” Adekeye said.
He added that two ICPC officials examined El-Rufai’s eyes, which should have prompted a hospital visit or a doctor’s attendance. Instead, no medical care was arranged.
Adekeye also alleged that an ICPC official, identified as “Henry” and believed to be on secondment from another agency, misled a family member by claiming El-Rufai did not want to see a doctor. “Henry was vigorously challenged by a family member for this false, insensitive and absurd claim,” he said.
The aide said El-Rufai’s lawyers had obtained a court order to allow him access to his doctors and medical treatment due to the persistent eye problem. He was taken to an eye clinic on June 4, but his condition worsened overnight, alarming his wives who visited him.
“Despite this, the ICPC persists in treating him as if he is without rights and is undeserving of a duty of care while in their custody,” Adekeye stated.
“No agency of the government is allowed to be indifferent to the medical condition of a person in their custody. The ICPC must respect human rights of persons in its custody, obey court orders and allow them access to the medical treatment that they require.”
The El-Rufai family made similar claims in May, accusing ICPC of blocking his personal doctor from seeing him to discuss test results, and turning away his wife Aichatou with his evening meal after 6:30 p.m. due to internal directives.
The ICPC has denied the earlier allegations.
